Messages
A collection of sermons and messages Mark has given over the years
New messages are added as they become available
Dec 31, 2023, 10:30 AM
Earlier in Matthew 18, Jesus shares the parable of the lost sheep. In it He says, "If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away...." What would make a sheep wander away? What would make a believer leave the church? Jesus concludes the parable with "in the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost." The very next thing Jesus says is, "If your brother sins...." Is Jesus pointing out at least one cause of lost believers, their sin? Is He also showing our part in working with the Father to keep from losing a brother? If so, it seems His technique is counter-intuitive! Seems more likely to drive people away! But what if He's right? (Scripture quotations from the NIV, 1984.) From Matthew 18:15-20.
Dec 17, 2023, 10:30 AM
There are many joys of Christmas: gatherings of family and friends, festivities, music and lights, food and fellowship, giving and receiving gifts. As wonderful as these are, the real joy of Christmas isn't any of these things. The real joy of Christmas is that babe born in Bethlehem two thousand years ago. Because He was no ordinary baby. He fulfilled the promises that gave us hope of victory over Satan, Death, Sin and our Hard Hearts. He was born to pay the price to make peace between us and God. If we don't understand that, we don't understand the real joy of Christmas. Do you know real joy? From Luke 2:15-37.
Dec 10, 2023, 10:30 PM
Over the centuries from the beginning of time, the Lord has sent promise after promise, prophecy after prophecy, of the Seed of the Woman who would deliver us from Satan, Death, Sin and Our Own Heart. In the fullness of time, a baby is born in Bethlehem, and the angels cannot contain themselves! "Glory to God in the highest! And on earth, peace to men on whom His favor rests!" (Luke 2:14) The promise of peace is finally here! But what is this peace? It has so many interpretations and iterations in our modern society. Are they all correct? Or does God have something more specific in mind? From Luke 2:1-14.
Dec 3, 2023, 10:30 AM
The first week of Advent focuses on the Hope that Christ brings. But hope for what? Why do we need hope? What are we hoping for? Interestingly enough, the first 6 chapters of the Bible reveal four of our chief enemies we face in this life. Peppered throughout Scripture are promises that give hope to the believer of victory over every one of these enemies. And these promises all point to a Son who's birth we will soon celebrate at Christmas.